Ruxbin
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851 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60642 West Town - Get Directions
- Phone number (312) 624-8509
- Message the business
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Business website ruxbinchicago.com
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“Garlic fries, Trout, Elotes, Apple & Plum Salad, Panna Cotta....everything was excellent.” in 136 reviews
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“Cute decor, great service, awesome food, BYOB, the best chicken and waffles EVER!” in 197 reviews
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“OMG the hanger steak is quite possibly the best thing I have ever tasted in my entire life.” in 89 reviews
Recommended Reviews
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- Jed C.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 4 reviews
6/21/2015
We have been going to this neighborhood gem for years!
Small with a very intimate vibe. Restaurant is decorated stylishly with recycled materials.
The food is excellent and never disappoints. The menu rotates seasonally but the rabbit with bay scallops and the venison are our favorites!
This year they started taking reservations. Do yourself a favor and stop by soon! -
- Lissie B.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 27 reviews
8/6/2015
This isn't a bad review. But it's not a good review either. Clearly, I'm confused and hangry....
I want to love Ruxbin. I honestly do. The food is delicious!! I want to shout from the highest rooftops about the culinary wonder that is Ruxbin. But it's with a heavy and regretful heart, I can't.
I dined at Ruxbin this summer and thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of food that was in front of me...and yet, I left hungry. I'm even a light eater and left wanting more. My date and I ordered what we thoughts were an ample number of dishes, including dessert, and while each were well worth 5+ stars for taste (the braised rabbit and octopus - OMG drool!), we were disappointed that we paid so much only to have our palates teased. It's like their starters were mere tastings and their mains were small plates. After 5 years of eating my way through this city, I can't remember any restaurant experience in Chicago where I left this hungry.
Overall, I would rate them 5 stars for food and give high marks for service and ambiance, as well, but sadly, Ruxbin gets 1 star for value. Needless to say, I'm disappointed, yet conflicted.
It's nice that it's BYOB because that offset the cost (seems like a wisely constructed ruse now that I think about it...). But really....I came here to eat, so please, feed me! -
7/15/2015
1 check-inWe ate there a few weeks ago and had a tremendous time. The space is quaint and small and while the tables are close together, I feel it only adds to the intimacy. Our server was very sweet and welcoming. She was attentive without being smothering. One of the highlights is that the restaurant is BYOB with only a $5 corkage fee. We brought one bottle and probably could have dived into a second one as the meal is nicely paced.
The concept of Ruxbin is small plates made for sharing. Between my girlfriend and I, we shared 4 plates. The highlight was definitely the rabbit. Served with bay scallops and gnocchi, the dish was hearty without being heavy. The rabbit was cooked to perfection and paired nicely with the anise sweet potato.
While it's a decent drive from our hotel in River North, the drive was definitely worth it. I would definitely return. -
- Adriaan T.
- New York, NY
- 3 friends
- 62 reviews
6/27/2015
This place is a bit overrated in my opinion.
I've been there twice and both tines the food was good. The first time I went was over a year ago and I had mussels as well as a cotton candy dessert.
The second time I had another seafood dish which made me sick. I have a weak stomach so it is not that surprising. But ny girlfriend got sick too, which is a remarkable feat. We called them to inform them, telling them that one of their items might be contaminated. They were nice about it.
I could probably give them another shot. I think I was unlucky -
- Juliana T.
- Chicago, IL
- 4 friends
- 14 reviews
8/9/2015
I loved this place. My husband and I went on a whim one night, and since they don't take reservations, it worked in our favor. The wait was long (1+ hours) but, once your inside you understand why given the limited space. I dot really remember the exact dishes we had not because they were remarkable but because I waited waaaay too long to write this review. I do remember that I had a fish soup which I believe was the best soup I have ever had. The nuances of flavor that went with the very delicate pieces of fish. I will never forget it. I know... It's soup, but that's how delicious it was. Looking forward to eating there again in the near future.
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5/24/2015
The food here is really really good!
I tried:
-prawn with squash sauce;
- foie gras;
- rabbit (the best!!)'
- hanger steak.
Honestly everything is very good, rich in flavor but not pretentious. The only problem is that the portions are very small even compared to other fine dining restaurants. The rabbit, that was my favorite, was 30$ for a little leg. I was ok after dinner but my boyfriend was still hungry even after they brought the dessert....
The place is small and the interior is very nice but not special.
And dont forget it is BYOB!!!! -
8/1/2015
Listed in Chicago Chomp.YUM YUM AND ONE MORE YUM FOR GOOD MEASURE. Yes, I'm yelling about how good this place is. Ruxbin has been on my list to try for quite a while, so I was thrilled when my husband picked it for my birthday dinner this year. This little place is an absolute gem. First, BYOB- hooray! Second, they've recently begun taking reservations, which is great! We walked right in. Third, and most importantly- the food!! My husband is a venison fanatic, so he had that- I got one bite and it was awesome! I couldn't decide, so had a few of the appetizers- the watermelon salad (the ricotta!), the octopus and then split the fries w/the hubs. Everything was outstanding!! I especially loved the octopus. Because it was my birthday, they gave us dessert on the house and we had the pot de creme- it was perfect! All in all, our meal was outstanding from start to finish. The atmosphere was lovely, too. And the bathroom is a must visit- it's unique! So glad I got to celebrate my birthday at Ruxbin!
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- Adrienne B.
- Chicago, IL
- 6 friends
- 86 reviews
- Elite ’15
1/25/2015
1 check-inA friend of mine told me about this Gem located on Ashland. I can't thank her enough for introducing me to another but one of the best BYOB in town!
To start... It is a tiny restaurant! This isn't the type of restaurants for groups! I would say it is best for an intimate night with one other person. They do have 2 booths that can sit 4 people and 1 large table by the kitchen. Reservations are a must!
So where do I begin describing the delicious food I consumed.... I think now is a good time. First.. They bring pepper/salted popcorn to your table! Next.. They open your bottle of wine ( 5 dollar corkage fee). We ordered 2 appetizers. The first was the garlic fries. The garlic fries are definitely worth the 5 dollars! The dipping sauce was addicting! I didn't taste too much garlic but that's what made it outstanding! The second appetizer we ordered was the Foie Gras! Can't really describe it.... But was very good! I recommend it!
Now as for entrees.. We ordered their special which was their Rabbit Leg and the Red Grouper! It was the first time I ate rabbit and I loved it! It tastes similar to chicken! The chef made it perfectly tender! The grouper was mouthwatering! Perfectly cooked fish! They use all sorts of ingredients that makes these dishes outstanding! Your taste buds are in for an adventure!
Last but not least... DESSERT! We had the chocolate... Perfect way to end the evening! We also had their coffee! Not sure where they bought this coffee but it was best coffee I ever had!
My favorite part of this place is the bathroom! Just check it out! -
5/27/2015
After many months of looking at Ruxbin, I finally got the opportunity to take my girlfriend here for her birthday!
This is definitely a trendy, down-to-earth yet intimate restaurant. The servers were very friendly, and the setting was very chic. Start by going to the bathroom that everyone talks about. We ordered the garlic fries and a foie gras appetizer, which were both excellent. Many reviewers have commented how the garlic fries were amazing, but imo.. let's not get carried away here. The plating for the foie gras was however very pretty and hard to destroy!
For our courses we had steak (forgot the exact name) and duck breast. Most asian fusion dishes I had were very casual affairs, but this was the first time everything just worked under a fine dining backdrop.
I highly recommend this place for special occasions, or for that one day you want to elevate your dinner to the next level. Ruxbin certainly made me a fan, and now I can't wait to try their sister restaurant Mott St.! -
- Valarie G.
- Camarillo, CA
- 321 friends
- 1079 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/27/2015
1 check-inYes...more please. That about sums it up. Everything so perfectly done. I had the rabbit, and my other 2 family members had the grouper and the duck. Everything was cooked to perfection and the waitress guided us to the perfect amount of food to order. Honestly...I'm still drooling at the memory of my meal here.
Also, as crazy as this sounds - be sure to use the restroom while you are here. It is an experience.
Oh and cheap cheap corkage is a huge plus! Well done!! Bring your favorite bottle of wine with you.
Make reservations well in advance. They book up quickly and it is a tiny restaurants. There won't be room for you if you walk-in without a reservation. -
4/27/2015
Had an outstanding meal at Ruxbin last Friday night. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated immediately. The person who seated us took our bottle of champagne to put on ice right away and brought over some coupes. (Yes, it is BYOB, but there is a $5 corkage.)
Our dishes were:
Their house popcorn--I don't like popcorn so I didn't have any, but my husband was a big fan of the snack.
Venison tartare (one of the special starters that evening)--Soooo good. I could have easily had a larger portion as my main.
Garlic fries with chipotle aioli--good, no complaints, but also not something that you should come to Ruxbin for...they're just garlic fries.
Duck breast--every bite was better than the next. I don't order duck often, but I'm glad I did! The blackberries gave it a nice added flavor.
Braised rabbit--I thought it couldn't get any better than the duck, until I tried my husband's rabbit dish. If I could go back in time, I would probably order this instead.
Pear tart--we split a dessert and, again, it was great. I can't remember the details exactly, but the ice cream it came with had a goat cheese flavor. Surprisingly welcome as I am not normally a goat cheese fan.
All in all, it was a great evening. I've taken away 1 star for the service. Let me say, the server was fine, no mishaps, didn't rush us or anything like that BUT she wasn't particularly friendly either. I wasn't looking for her to become our new BFF, but I thought she might care a tiny little bit that her attitude would influence the overall experience. A little goes a long way in terms of making your table feel welcome.
I'd recommend Ruxbin for a special occasion or a nicer night out. The atmosphere is very intimate, probably because it's a small space with not many tables. I'm glad we finally tried it and am looking forward to going back....but probably not for a while as it isn't exactly the type of place you go to regularly. -
- Jo S.
- Las Vegas, NV
- 0 friends
- 33 reviews
8/6/2015
Definitely as good as it gets. I don't know what was better the kitchen or the front of the house. I had an extra friend come into town early. Holding my breath I called a day in advance to increase our group to a table for 5. The hostess was charming and said she could do it if we came 15 minutes earlier. Noproblemo!
From start to finish the meal was nothing short of spectacular. Starting with the savory popcorn which was a nice change from bread and butter. We swept the entire appie menu. The standouts were the foie gras, octopus and heirloom tomato app. For entrees one had the rabbit which was met with oohs and aahs. I shared the pork and skirt steak. The pork was very good but the skirt steak was amazing. We shared both desserts. Everyone was happy. -
- Melissa C.
- New York, NY
- 81 friends
- 534 reviews
- Elite ’15
4/13/2015
I'm very hard to impress when it comes to steak, but the hanger steak at Ruxbin is one to remember. It was cooked perfectly medium rare, delicately sliced into thin pieces and so tender and flavorful. Even though I was pretty full already, I managed to finish every piece of steak.
The other entrees my group got included the duck breast and the venison. I tried them all, but think the steak was the best. We also had the foie gras and the beets for appetizers. The foie gras truly tasted like elevated butter. I wasn't as impressed by the beets but I don't like beets normally. They give you free popcorn to start too.
To finish it off, we shared two desserts - the chocolate quartet and the pear tart tatin. I liked the deconstructed look of both and they were quite tasty.
Even though the steak is amazing, the decor of Ruxbin is probably the coolest thing about the restaurant. I couldn't stop looking around and wondering where they found the decor. Be sure to check out the restroom too!
We had 6pm reservations, which we were able to change to 8:30pm. It was nice that the restaurant was flexible. If you're trying to come here without a wait, I'd recommend coming later on a Sunday as the place emptied out by the time we were done with our meal. -
- Mohammed H.
- Chicago, IL
- 17 friends
- 23 reviews
6/22/2015
1 check-inCame here for my bday celebrations and I was impressed. I'm finding that the really great restaurants in Chicago are not located in downtown. Ruxbin has a very vintage atmosphere with really nice lighting and wallpaper. The food we ordered was made fresh and tasted amazing. I had the risotto while my group ordered everything from the lamb to steak. We also ordered desserts of course and I really enjoyed the dark chocolate custard with raspberries. When you have great food, great place and great friends you can't go wrong.
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- Sissy L.
- The Loop, Chicago, IL
- 18 friends
- 7 reviews
7/3/2015
1 check-inVery delicious. I tried their tasting menu, it is so great, i love every dishes they serve, especially the main course, the beef is tender, the pork is so well cooked. They serve a little bit slowly, but compare to the taste, worth it!!!
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- Juan R.
- Chicago, IL
- 139 friends
- 20 reviews
2/26/2015
If you ate here and complain about the price or portion size you truly don't understand dining. When you eat at a place like Ruxbin you aren't just paying for the amount of food that gets placed in front of you. You are paying for the quality of the ingredients, you pay for the chefs ideas and beautiful presentation and you pay for the server's genuineness and knowledge about the dishes. If you want a huge plate of food to be dumped in front of you by a server who hates his job this isn't the place for you.
With that said Ruxbin is my favorite restaurant in West Town. I love the neighborhood vibe it has
and the food is always impeccable. My server yesterday, Charlie, was so passionate about what they were serving and I let him course out my dinner for me. We started with the beats and foie gras for appetizers and then some more duck and rabbit special for our entrées. The food was fresh and packed with so many flavors. My favorite was by far the rabbit, paired with pomegranate seeds and sweet potato purée it was truly to die for.
Everyone that works here from the owners to the servers are pleased to have you, which really completes your experience here. We as Chicagoans need to support locally owned and independent restaurants like Ruxbin and Mott st. (their sister restaurant). We can't let all the big chain and restaurant groups own the entire city!
:) Ruxbin -
- Carl E.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 1 review
7/28/2015
I was enjoying a nice evening out with some friends, and after a while we decided to grab something to eat. We've heard about Ruxbin, and since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to give it a try.
First of all, we were given a table very fast, and it was kind of impressive considering that it was Friday. Anyway, we sat down and while we were browsing through the menu, a nice waitress came and asked us if we wanted some popcorn while doing this. She was very friendly, and she recommended us some of their best dishes. We decided to listen to her advice and we couldn't have been happier! The food was absolutely amazing, both in terms of taste and presentation.
The atmosphere is very nice too at Ruxbin, and the staff is always eager to cater to your every need. They totally deserved their tip!
If you go there, you have to know that you can't make reservations in advance, but if you don't find a place to sit, they will inform you how long you have to wait until a table will be ready for you. I had a really great time there and I can't wait to go and eat some delicious garlic fries at Ruxbin again! -
- Elaine L.
- Chicago, IL
- 118 friends
- 21 reviews
5/14/2015
Love this place. Staff is amazing. Full of knowledge, suggestions and excitement.
The food is delicious and the menu is always changing for the season. Their deserts are amazing and so creative. Anything they do with steak order. Also any chocolate desert is a must. It's byob and there is a $5 cork fee. The kitchen is tiny but those chefs make magic out of there.
It does get a little loud but I really don't mind it's fun to be around others (unlike the table next to me who seemed annoyed they needed to sit next to someone else).
It is a small space so make a reservation, although I've walked in twice and was accommodated. Once I was sat immediately and longest I waited was 45 mins.
Come here and eat tons of great food with your favorite booze from home. -
- Ben K.
- Chicago, IL
- 2 friends
- 2 reviews
5/21/2015
Quick Hits:
Pros - Unique, tasty dishes. Casual romantic BYOB ($5 corkage).
Cons - A bit noisy.
Bill for 2 - $65-$80
Full Summary
Came across Ruxbin while looking for an upscale-ish BYOB spot in Chicago. Turned out to be quite the find.
Setting the table:
Made an 8pm reservation on a Wednesday night and was seated right away. The decor is unique, a bit artsy, and the setting is very cozy, in the sense that you are pretty close to your neighbors' tables, but at the same time it feels intimate. There are maybe 12 tables in the house total. A great date night or double-date night.
Menu:
The small menu (both in physical size and content), consists of 5 or 6 appetizers and 5 or 6 entrees, yet is full of unique and flavorful dishes. Personally, I love a small menu because it says we do these few things, and we do them darn well. If that were a rule (it's not), Ruxbin certainly would not be an exception.
Food:
Began with appetizers. Dank garlic fries. Much and more has been said of the garlic fries here, but I mean yeah, they are super. Also tried the prawn, which was good, but not something I'd write home about. Then again, I am no prawn connoisseur, so take that with a grain of salt. Main courses were the hangar steak and rabbit. My mouth is watering as I write about these plates. I only had a bite of the rabbit, but what an excellent bite it was. Juicy, tender, flavorful. The hangar steak, which I ordered, was maybe the best $30 meat I've ever tried.
Ruxbin is a restaurant to visit and revisit. Worth every penny. -
- svetlana k.
- Chicago, IL
- 181 friends
- 66 reviews
- Elite ’15
7/12/2014
2 check-insWhat a phenomenal restaurant! Great food all around, well worth the price. BYO! No alcohol served on the premise so bring your own.
Started off with the octopus and the pork belly. One of the best octopus I've had in the city (and I've had many). Tender, juicy, smoky. So many great components on the dish, I wanted to lick the plate. The pork belly was not as good but still tasty. A bit on the dryer side but the taste was good.
For entrees, ordered the Nigerian prawn and veal breast. I absolutely loved the Nigerian prawn dish. Everything on the plate I devoured. Beautifully plated and substantial amount of food. The veal breast was juicy and on the sweeter side. I liked it as well.
Skip the desert... It was something rocky road and it was terrible. The marshmallow was extremely sweet, the chocolate was extremely bitter like 90% dark chocolate, the brandy cherry was not good. The waitress noticed us picking at out dessert and quickly took it away. Props to her. Great staff!
I want to come back here again and again. Tiny restaurant, great service, awesome bathroom by the way and don't forget to bring some booze. -
- Ryan C.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 56 friends
- 7 reviews
7/18/2015
Great little place. We loved the trout, and the venison with figs and pomegranate jus. Ambience is cool (recycled-junk art) but relaxed, and the service is great. The place is small and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table, so they corked our BYOB bottle for us and we sipped it while waiting outside in their makeshift sidewalk lounge. Be sure to visit the bathroom too!
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1/1/2015
1 check-inThis was my wife's idea ... I don't say that to segue into a negative review, I liked the food and the experience. But this isn't a place I would ordinarily go. It's byob (which is fine) with emphasis on the quality of the ingredients (also fine) but it is pricey still. Then there is the ransom you have to pay for the privilege of making a reservation (you must show or cancel 48 hours in advance and if you don't you lose your ransom) which I completely get now that i've been there and see how small the space is and the care they put into making sure that those who DO show have a memorable dining experience. But as the parent of two under 6 where "anything can happen" at the last minute ... ... but of course nobody put a gun to my head to make the reservation either.
Highly recommend this restaurant, check out the menu, or call to find out if there are any changes to it, so that you can intelligently byob. I would have made different decisions had we done that, although they were super accommodating of all the different brews and wines we brought. -
- Corey N.
- Chicago, IL
- 115 friends
- 89 reviews
5/11/2015 Updated review
I've gone back to Ruxbin a handful of times since my initial 5-star review and I'm happy to say that the food is still as good as ever.
Pros: Imaginative, flavorful dishes, BYOB, cool atmosphere.
Cons: Small portions.
Food: The food here is the star of the show. The flavor combinations are interesting, the food is well plated and most importantly, it's tasty as all get out. The menu changes seasonally, but it is consistently excellent. Duck and seafood preparations are almost always superb. The food is on par with most fine dining establishments. Portion side is a bit small, but I felt prices fair given the quality.
Service: Warm, welcoming, down to earth. The staff know when it's ok to joke around and when they need to allow the guests room to breathe. I've never had a bad server.
Ambience: The place has somewhat of a steampunk vibe and it's refreshingly unpretentious. Not good for groups of 6+ due to the small size/layout. Ruxbin is a great place for a date, unless you're going with someone who expects white table cloths and snooty waiters -- in which case, you really need to rethink your date.
Overall: One of my favorite places to dine in Chicago. It's a winner, winner chicken dinner (but get the duck...trust me).Ruxbin isn't the best restaurant in the city, but it's one of my favorite dining experiences. Let's… Ruxbin isn't the best restaurant in the city, but it's one of my favorite dining experiences. Let's get the negative out of the way first -- no reservations except on Sunday. I understand why they do it and I'm not complaining, but I'd eat there more often if I didn't have to wait in line. Not my cuppa...5/2/2013 Previous review
That said, when you make it to the restaurant, you will enter a room where many items have been repurposed and there's a definite steampunk vibe. Cool. Servers are unfailingly polite and it's BYOB for a measly $5.
And the food?
Great! The menu is constantly changing, but items tend to be well-prepared with lots of intricate touches. It's a modern American fusion type place that has French and Asian flair. This is not the place to take your Uncle Tony who once finished 3 slabs of ribs at a single sitting. The dishes are on the smaller side, but abundant with flavor. The fish is always good and the deserts are interesting as well. Consider this description of their "Rocky Road"
ROCKY ROAD
Brownies, Smoked Cherries, Juniper Ice Cream, Almonds, Marshmallow Fluff, Cotton Candy, Creme Fraiche Caramel
It was OMG hot-diggity awesomesauce yummy. And this is coming from someone who is not a huge fan of dessert.
High quality food in a casual atmosphehere? Yes please! Read more -
- Mary Ann C.
- Oak Park, IL
- 64 friends
- 628 reviews
12/14/2014
1 check-inAfter many months of wanting to dine here, we finally made it to Ruxbin last night. The food, service, decor were all five star worthy. I thoroughly enjoyed the oysters, fries, octopus, steak, chocolate dessert. All were fantastic. The steak was perfectly cooked, presented beautifully, and a true treat. The other diners at the table loved their selections, as well. Our server was amazingly helpful and good about checking on us.
The decor in this place is original and fun. I almost felt like I was in a train car. Loved the seats that were made into lights. Loved the bathroom...pretty cool!
Literally, the only reason I knocked off a star and maybe a reason for not returning is the reservation policy. This place is TINY, so you need a reservation. If you cancel within 48 hours, there is a 25 dollar per person charge. Plus, you get a reminder email the day of the reservation, so it is already too late to cancel. Not sure what the point of the reminder email is at that point. As a small business owner, I understand why they have incorporated this policy. However, it would be very easy for Ruxbin to fill the table if there was a cancellation. The place was packed. If your babysitter cancels, you get sick, a family member is sick....you pay the fee. This makes it very hard for me to feel comfortable about making a reservation and coming back. Things happen within 48 hours.....and there are no exceptions to this rule.
Five stars for food, decor, service! One star for the reservation policy. -
- Maria D.
- Chicago, IL
- 100 friends
- 93 reviews
4/7/2015
Although the food at this place is top notch and it is very cute inside (and outside) our night was absolutely ruined because they ONLY ALLOW YOU 1 hour and 30 minutes to inhale your meal. Their chef is outstanding, so not being able to savor every bite is especially difficult.
They do not mention this small detail when you make reservations, but drop this on you when you are already sitting there with your bottle of wine, looking over the menu... How thoughtful!
So, if you are looking for an amazing but VERY FAST meal, this is your place. However, if you one of those weirdos, who goes out to eat for the sake of the experience such as a date-night, celebration or catching up with a friend, then I would suggest finding a different venue. Otherwise you might have to brown-bag your left-over wine and join the homeless for the rest of your evening. Hope the weather is on your side:) -
- Greg G.
- Chicago, IL
- 22 friends
- 104 reviews
5/14/2015
I FINALLY got to come here thanks to them starting an online reservation system!
Alright lets get into it, we were seated right away and got a booth for 4. Good start.
We started off with the roof top greens and garlic fries. The garlic fries stood out as the clear winner. Someone said "they are just garlic fries" in a review below. No. These are better than just garlic fries. I've had 100 different garlic fries before, this dip was the best, and they were seasoned perfectly.
Now lets dive into the main dishes...
Rabbit - I regret getting this, the scallops it came with were super salty, and the rabbit, was good but not as good as the other dishes we ordered. I mean I just ordered it because I've never had rabbit before, so I guess that was a something to check off my food list..
Rohan Duck Breast - Very good! So good!
Hanger Steak - Cooked to perfection! Amazing!
For dessert we got the pear tart. It was veryyy good, except I have one complaint. They sprinkle a bunch of leafs on it, I forget exactly what it was, there were like 100 dry leafs of cilantro on it or something but it wasn't cilantro.. The leafs kept getting stuck in everyone's throats and we were coughing. Dry leafs don't mix well with icecream you are swallowing.. -
11/9/2014
1 check-inI "get" why people love Ruxbin. It's a small neighborhood restaurant that appears to be a gem in West Town. It's local, not commercialized, not owned by a restaurant group. It's one of those neighborhood places that people love to love. And, it's BYO so I can see how it gets brownie points from people.
The food though for me, while it was good, it didn't blow me away. Also, I rarely comment on pricing but felt the need to here. $32 for the sea bass entree. It came as a small piece that could be finished in 4-5 bites. Not even at least a fillet size for that price? I can get a whole fish for about $10 more at other finer dining restaurants.
There's too much effort needed to dine here (limited reservations, mostly walk-ins, and out of the way location) to make me want to return. -
- Samantha H.
- Chicago, IL
- 106 friends
- 357 reviews
- Elite ’15
3/9/2015
I'm struggling with how to rate this. I'm between 3 and 4 stars but notching down only because Ruxbin is in the league of non-Michelin star spots that are better than some Michelin star spots (Purple Pig, Maudes, etc.). Compared to these, it's just okay. The service was very good and ambiance nice. The food was hit and miss. They did bring us different glasses for the different wines we brought and the complimentary popcorn was good. Overall I did enjoy it but just based on other reviews, I was just expecting more. I'd definitely go back.
We tried the fries, which we all agreed were fries. They were tasty but didn't blow any of us away. There were 4 of us so we got to try a bunch of stuff. The prawn was small but she managed our expectations that it would be and it was very good. The buttery pumpkin sauce is the bottom of the bowl was like crack. The foie was very nice as well. Overall we all agreed that the starters were superior to the entrees. My favorite entree was the grouper. I would highly recommend. The pork belly was good (as all pork belly tends to be) but the squid with it had no seasoning and was a tad rubbery. Had that squid been really good, this would have been a wonderful dish. Overall we were all disappointed with the venison and the duck. They both fell a bit flat to us and we get both types quite often, both at restaurants as well as to prepare at home. I feel these are two proteins where there is a potential 'wow' factor but neither one had that. They were cooked very well, but just the flavor was not really as great as it could have been. We got a flourless chocolate cake for dessert and this was solid. There was really nothing that was bad, but with the reputation that Ruxbin has, I would have expected more than just two standout dishes (both seafood, I might add). The menu changes often so I will go back and see if I might have a more outstanding experience next time. -
- Benjamin R.
- Chicago, IL
- 0 friends
- 284 reviews
6/18/2015
4.5 Stars. We really really liked our entrees a lot, the rabbit especially but the venison not far behind. We also got garlic fries and a chocolate dessert of some kind both of which were unremarkable, but we didn't care much. It's a pretty casual but cool environment. All the furnishings and decor are made out of repurposed materials. Booth backs made out of old seatbelts, etc. It's fun, but very small, which we liked. It's also cool that it's BYOB so you can bring in your own wine or beer and they will put it on ice for you.
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- Stacy B.
- Chicago, IL
- 7 friends
- 40 reviews
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9/24/2014
1 check-inRuxbin is a tiny, cool restaurant that feels very romantic. They are BYOB, which makes it a cheaper date option than a lot of other places that are on the same food level. We tried the corn soup, grilled octopus, hanger steak, ravioli, and peach cake. YUM. Everything was super tasty, but my favorite of the night was the hanger steak. It was perfectly cooked medium rare, and it was served with purple potatoes and grilled broccoli. There was a chimichurri sauce and some other zesty little sauce on the plate that were also both excellent.
Make a reservation for 2 or 4 (any larger really can't be accommodated in the small space) and of course, check out the bathrooms! -
- Matthew S.
- Chicago, IL
- 90 friends
- 47 reviews
- Elite ’15
9/22/2014
If you only go here to see the Tardis-like restroom, it will be worth it.
Seriously- what a fun, steam-punk inspired setting, matched equally by imaginative, delicious entrees and excellent service.
We started with Octopus with chick peas, garlic fries (I could have just stuck with those and been a happy camper) and Pork Belly paired with grapefruit and corn bread. We followed that with an assortment of entrees including melt in your mouth hangar steak and prawn and pulled pork. Nice sized portions and beautiful presentation.
That fell apart with the dessert: bland peach cake and bizarre "deconstructed" chocolate cake. It looked as though they started scraping a real piece of chocolate cake off the plate of someone's dessert and said "wait a minute, wouldn't it be cool to serve it?". Ok, joking, but the presentation was a little too hipster for my tastes.
All in all, dessert was not a deal breaker because the meal, the apps, the service, and atmosphere were all top drawer. We will go back! -
6/20/2014
Took the gf here for her birthday last week and it did not disappoint.
Actually... it blew our socks off!
Our meal consisted of:
-Garlic Fries:
-Octopus:
-Pork Belly:
-Nigerian Prawn & Pulled Pork:
-Hanger Steak
I highly, highly recommend the Hanger Steak, Octopus, and Garlic Fries. The Steak was soooo good. Great tenderness on the meat, with delectable marinade/spice. Then matched with the chimichurri, perfection.
But from everything we ate - just like kindergarten, they ALL GET A STAR! 5 stars!
BYOB is a great plus to help keep the price of a nice meal within reason.
Also, this year they started to take reservations online and I was able to make one a few days in advance. EZ-PZ. -
- Laura A.
- Chicago, IL
- 3 friends
- 4 reviews
1/27/2015
I wish my wallet would allow me to come here every weekend (especially now that they accept reservations). Ruxbin is one of my favorite restaurants, ever. It's small, but cozy. Not pretentious. I really love the BYOB.
I am not a steak person by any means, but I can't NOT order the hangar steak every time I come here. It's delicious. The garlic fries, another menu staple, are also a must. Everything I've had here has been wonderful. -
- Michele N.
- Kansas City, MO
- 44 friends
- 261 reviews
- Elite ’15
12/29/2014
1 check-inA great little byob restaurant! Reservations taken 30 days out; definitely recommend having a reservation. The decor is simple, but very warm and inviting. Our service was simple and fine for the evening. The food took a bit more time than expected, but the presentation and taste definitely hit the mark. We started sharing appetizers for our party of four: two orders of oysters, fried octopus and the pork belly. The favorite was definitely the pork belly, followed close behind by the octopus. The oysters were a flat out disappointment. They were prepared as a trio, but none of the preparations really worked for us, especially the smoked oyster which tasted like pure salt.
Our entrees were awesome - sea bass, duck, and hanger steak. The temperatures of the meats was perfect, the side dishes were fabulous and the portion sizes were very nice. We only had room left for one dessert so we went for the chocolate, which was delicious!
I had read in plenty reviews about the bathroom, so we each paid a visit! I felt like I was on the Jetsons, quite a unique entry to the loo! Don't forget to lock the revolving door once you're inside, or you could have an unexpected visitor! -
- Mark Q.
- Chicago, IL
- 11 friends
- 7 reviews
1/21/2015
Was not sure what to expect from this place. But wow was I surprised, the food is amazing and the wait staff is on point. They all know what is being served and they do not give you any bs! I highly recommend coming here and trying it out. The bathroom is a must check out here! Very cool!
I cannot wait to go again! -
- Cindy P.
- Chicago, IL
- 9 friends
- 33 reviews
5/14/2015
Went last night for my birthday dinner...and at long last have found my favorite place!! Started with the foie gras, which I initially didn't want to order, as I thought it might be rich and heavy. It was light but still creamy. Far exceeded my expectations. Then garlic fries that were fun and delicious. After reading intrepid yelper reviews, decided to go for the frog leg dish figuring if you're going to eat frog...this is the place to try it. To die for!!! So many little flavors and sensations all happening in one dish...My husband had the hanger steak which is beautifully seasoned and prepared. It will be hard for me to choose between these dishes next time. Pear dessert was creative and excellent. It's a fun, unpretentious place and I can't wait to go back!!!
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11/24/2014
1 check-inListed in Chicago Foodie Trip (Sept 2014)I've been taking my time to review the restaurants that my friend and I visited during our foodie crawl weekend to Chicago in mid-Sept. Given our ambitious itinerary (We made it to 17 spots total in less than 72 hours) and with the sheer saturation of taste buds, I wanted to make sure I gave each spot a fair assessment. Ruxbin was one of the (many) spots where we ate quite light as we were having a late-ish dinner a few hours later at Girl & the Goat with a nightcap at the Aviary afterwards. The menu was quite subtle and I didn't appreciate it at the time. But after a bit of reflection, it is clear that the flavors were quite complex and delicious. We ordered only 2 things-- the daily crudo and an apple and plum salad (w/ baby arugula, shaved celery, almonds, manchego, and a walnut-sherry vinaigrette). I love that a clearly popular restaurant is BYOB... that's true restraint not to make that kind of easy money! :)
Most memorable for me about Ruxbin was the restroom (Yes, the restroom!)-- no door, just a re-purposed darkroom entryway-- how very nostalgic (at least for those of us old enough to remember using non-digital cameras and developing the film and photos ourselves, it took me right back to high school photography!) -
- Monica B.
- Chicago, IL
- 29 friends
- 35 reviews
10/30/2014
2 check-insRuxbin is easily in my top 3 of Chicago restaurants! I have been here twice now and have been blown away both times.
It is a small restaurant with less than 20 tables including the chefs table. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting, nothing I've seen around Chicago.
They are byob too which is always a plus. It's hard to find a nice byob that isn't either overly pricey or Asian/cheap. Ruxbin is definitely a nice restaurant i would recommend for an event or special occasion but it is not snobby like a river north restaurant.
The best part, the food! OMG is it good.
I've had the halibut and sea bass. I don't normally order fish at a restaurant but their fish is out of this world, it's a mouth watering experience. I eat slowly just to make it last longer, no joke. The flavors are vibrant and work great together. They always start you off with a popcorn topped with herbs, which is wonderful. My date got the hanger steak which was equally as amazing. We also got the grilled calamari which was epic. For dessert we got the chocolate trio- lets just say we were fighting to lick the plate, that good.
I love this place so much I almost don't want to tell people about it since it can be difficult to get a reservation. But it's too good not to share. Do yourself a favor and go here. Enjoy! -
4/29/2014
1 check-inI think my 3.5 star rating for Ruxbin is another reason I should NOT wait too long to visit a restaurant. The longer I wait, the higher my expectations, and the more likely I'll be underwhelmed.
We had a party of 4 and got there early enough before the place filled up. We also had a reservation, so we were seated promptly. Food-wise we ordered the octopus and garlic fries as appetizers, halibut, hanger steak, prawns & pulled pork and lamb. While the flavors were excellent, I thought the portion sizes were definitely smaller than what I expected for the price point. I have a healthy appetite and left hungry at the end of the meal.
Service was excellent: servers were very knowledgeable of the dishes and made sure to explain them to us as they came out.
I'd recommend it because the quality of the food was great, but don't come hungry or have an after-dinner plan!
Make a Reservation
Business info summary
-
- Today
- 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Open now
-
-
$$$
- Price range
- $31-60
Hours
| Mon | Closed | |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
| Wed | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
| Thu | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Open now |
| Fri | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | |
| Sat | 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm | |
| Sun | 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Menu
- Garlic Fries
- 5.00
- Octopus
- 12.00
- Pork Belly
- 12.00
More business info
-
- Takes Reservations
- No
- Delivery
- No
- Take-out
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Yes
- Good For
- Dinner
- Parking
- Street
- Bike Parking
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Yes
- Good for Kids
- No
- Good for Groups
- No
- Attire
- Casual
- Ambience
- Trendy
- Noise Level
- Average
- Alcohol
- No
- Outdoor Seating
- No
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Has TV
- No
- Waiter Service
- Yes
- Caters
- No
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